Enjoy the predicted beautiful weather and plan a picnic in the Garden.

Or find the perfect Garden bench and spend an hour with your favorite book.

The Garden of Old Roses is glorious and free docent walks (with Garden admission) are available Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 PM.

Come to the Garden this weekend!

June at the Garden

Discover South America

Trek to the top of the Garden and explore South America, a Garden area featuring plants from the mountain highlands of the Andes to southern-most Argentina and Chile. Discover a young grove of monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria spp.), brightly colored masses of Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria ligtu), wild fuchsias (Fuchsia spp.), giant-leaved gunneras (Gunnera spp.) and several species of southern beech trees (Nothofagus spp.). Members of the South American floras, such as Nothofagus and Araucaria, have close relatives in South Africa and Australia. Their ancestors are found in the fossil record of the ancient southern supercontinent Gondwana.

Plants in this collection represent the floras of temperate and mediterranean climate areas of South America, featuring plants from the matorral of coastal Chile. The matorral pla

Puya berteroana

nt community is characterized by shrubs and small trees with leathery leaves and is similar in appearance to California's chaparral. Both share a mediterranean climate with summer drought and winter rainfall. Common plants of the matorral include olivillo (Kageneckia) and soapbark tree (Quillaja), as well as terrestrial bromeliads (Puya).

The Puya create a spectacular display of blossoms at this time of year in the South American Area. The striking indigo blossoms of P. venusta are just budding, while the amazing teal blue blossoms of P. berteroana will be out later this month. Look too for P. caerulea, with small, deep blue flowers opening on pink blossom stalks. Birds, especially hummingbirds, butterflies and bees are drawn to the abundant nectar found in the flowers. Sterile spikelets on P. berteroana serve as perches for birds sipping the flower's nectar, thus promoting pollination as the birds collect and distribute pollen among plants.

Puya berteroana

South America TrekHorticulturist Peter Klement will lead a walk through the South American area on Thursday, May 13 from 1 - 2:30 pm. This walk is free for members and $10 for the public. Reservations are advised. Call 510-643-2755 x03.

Pictured in the top banner is Begonia boliviensis, a tuberous species native to Bolivia.

Father's Day at the Garden

Treat the Dad in your life to a special day on Sunday, June 20. Pack a picnic with his favorite lunch and bring him to the Garden to explore South America and discover the unique plants in the matorral collection. Seek out a secluded table for your picnic, bring a blanket for the lawn, enjoy the shade of the towering redwoods in the ampitheatre: the Garden offers many charming venues for your picnic with Dad.

Take Dad for a free walk with an expert docent at 1:30. Treat him to a gift membership on Father's Day and your gift will come with a fine art print (see the Membership Matters article later in this Clippings).

A number of South American species are marked as rare (with a red dot). This is not always due to current low numbers, but due to threats from commercial exploitation.

Soapbark tree or quillay (Quillaja saponaria, Quillajaceae)

Soapbark tree or quillay (Quillaja saponaria, Quillajaceae) used to be placed in the rose family, but studies of its wood anatomy showed it is more related to the pea families. It's native to drier parts of Chile. The saponins produced in soapbark tree twigs and bark are used for a variety of purposes. These include as a foaming agent in everything from carbonated beverages to fire extinguishers. Another more recent development, since 2007, is the use of Quillaja extract (8.6% active ingredient by weight) as a nematode and pathogenic fungi control agent in ornamental, food crops, and turf grasses.

"Due to its multiple pharmaceutical and industrial applications, more than 180 tons of bark are exported from Chile to different countries every year. It is estimated that in order to cover the world demand of saponins for one year, it would be necessary to cut 60,000 grown trees (from 30-50 years old) to produce 1,000 tons of bark. The exploitation through many years of natural populations of 'quillay' in Chile, along with a low natural reproduction by seeds, bad cattle practices and a progressive replacement of forests by other cultivars, is seriously threatening the preservation of this species. This makes it necessary to control the rational exploitation of the natural forests and to promote the reproduction of specimens in arid zones of lower agricultural value." Copaja et al (Wood Sci. Technology 37:103-108, 2003)

The 1936 accession of Quillaja can be seen in beds 603, 605, and 611 in the South American Area. They typically flower in June, and are now in bud.

Tribute Plaza Challenge

Maureen's staff surprised her with this brick upon her recent retirement. Congratulations Maureen!

If you're considering adding your name or honoring a friend or family member with a gift to the Tribute Plaza, there's exciting news. A very generous family, who wishes to remain anonymous, has presented the Garden with a challenge.

If the Garden receives 100 Tribute Plaza gifts by June 30th the anonymous donor will contribute $30,000 to the Tribute Plaza fund!

The Garden has received 43 Tribute Plaza gifts so far. We're thrilled with the early response to the new giving opportunity.
But, this generous $30,000 challenge has brought a new urgency to our
fundraising efforts. This is a limited opportunity - with only a set
number of bricks available in the Tribute Plaza, and now, a challenge
grant that must be met by June 30th.

The $30,000 challenge
is just one great reason to make a Tribute Plaza gift. Most importantly
your gift will benefit the Garden and ensure that our priceless plant
collection will be available for botanical research and education for
many years to come. Your support is crucial to our success, make your
Tribute Plaza gift today.

This long blooming Chilean perennial will bring sparkle to your garden. Summer blooming, it features pink flowers with lighter centers and deep red accents at each petal's base on tall, elegantly branched stems. The inflorescence (which is perfect for cut-flower arrangements) emerges from the dark green rosette of large, sturdy leaves that are evergreen and wavy-edged.

We currently offer 1 gallon pots of this plant for $8.00

Planting Comics · An Exhibition * Summer Solstice Evening

The Garden has invited a variety of students to interpret the Garden through temporary works of art to be sited throughout the Garden. The response of the students has been very positive, and they have already proposed several innovative and provocative projects.

Ozge Samanci

Planting Comics is the first exhibition in the collaboration between the Garden and the Cal Art Practice Department. Turkish artist Ozge Samanci is an Andrew Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in
the UC Art Practice Department where she is teaching a Comics and
Graphic Novels course. Following a career in comics, design and
teaching in Istanbul, Ozge came to the US where she did her master's
work at Ohio University and received a Ph.D in Digital Media from the
Georgia Institute of Technology. Ordinary Things is Osge's beautifully rendered online journal of her observations about life in the comic form.

You are invited to attend the opening reception of Planting Comics on the Summer Solstice, Monday, June 21, 6:30 - 8:30 PM in the Garden Entry Plaza. Garden members are free; the public is free with Garden admission.

Programs and Events

Puya caerulea photo by Jan Coe

photo by Jan Coe

photo by Jan Coe

photo by Jan Coe

photo by Jan Coe

Sunset StrollWednesday, June 2Enjoy the glorious evening light and a glass of wine or sparkling lemonade as you walk through the Garden in the quiet after hours.Registration required: $10, Free for members

Sick Plant ClinicSaturday, June 5, 9
am - noon

Introduction to Lake MakingWednesday, June 9, 6 - 9 pmJoin artist Judi Pettite for an evening of mystery and discovery as we unfold the secrets of making paint from dye. Lakes have been made for centuries as a painting medium, and we'll be using some of the very colors used by old masters, as well as hues local to our California landscape.Bring a notebook, pencil, and brush (if you have a favorite).Dyes, pigments and paper provided.Registration required: $65, $60 Garden members

Jazz in the Garden Thursday, June 10, 2010Come listen to two wonderful Bay Area bands: Gojogo and Nice Guy Trio as they treat you to an enchanted evening of Jazz in the Garden's stunning Redwood Grove Amphitheater.$12, $10 members

Horticultural Walk: South AmericaThursday, June 17, 1 - 2:30 pmJoin Horticulturist Peter Klement for a tour through the Garden's South American Area.$10, Free for members

Celebrate the Summer SolsticeMonday, June 21, 5 - 9 pmJoin us for a lovely evening in the Garden on the Summer Solstice. This evening will also be the opening of Ozge Samanci's Planting Comics an installation in the UC Botanical Garden featuring original comics mounted on tiles throughout the collection. Enjoy these evening hours from 5 - 9 pm. The opening reception/refreshments and entertainment will run from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.Free with Garden Admission

Butterfly WalkTuesday, June 22, 3 - 4 pmJoin Sally Levinson, Garden volunteer propagator, docent and caterpillar lady as she guides you through the collection in search of butterflies. Free with Garden admission. Space is limited. Children welcome.

Membership gives you the opportunity to help the University of California Botanical Garden fulfill its mission as guardian of many rare and endangered South American plants.

Your gift will have an impact on the entire Garden helping to maintain and preserve this priceless collection. Benefits include free Garden admission, a 10% discount in The Garden Shop and reciprocal admission to over 200 public gardens around the nation.

Special Gift if You Visit and Join on Father's DayFather's Day: Sunday, June 20Visit the Garden and make a membership gift (or a gift membership) and we will give you a fine art print by Gary Bukovnik.

Summer Camps have only a few spots left!

by Christine Manoux, Education Program Coordinator

Our Green Stuff Summer Camp for children ages 5-10 has a few weeks that still have openings, so now is your chance to enroll your child or grandchild in this wonderful enrichment opportunity. Camp weeks begin June 21 and run through August 20. Click here for our flyer and call 510-643-2755 to find out about availability.

There are also a handful of spots in Young Science Explorers, our special 4-day camp for 11-13 year olds. In this camp, youth visit a different UC Berkeley Natural History Museum every day, culminating on Friday at the Garden. Camp runs July 6-9 only. Click here for flyer.

Manage Your Subscription

The UC Garden Clippings is a publication of the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley. You can manage your subscriptions to Garden electronic publications by choosing Update Profile/Email Address at the bottom of this Clippings. The Update Profile/Email Address feature provides subscription options, allowing you to select those garden publications you wish to receive. Select Safe Unsubscribe to remove your email address from all UCBG electronic publications. The Garden offers five email publications:

UC Garden Clippings: This is a monthly publication featuring garden events and stories.

Updates: Occasional brief emails are sent to highlight special garden events.

Plant Deck: This is a monthly email describing plants available for purchase in the Garden.

Garden Clubs: This is an occasional publication describing special events and opportunities for garden clubs and plant societies.

Tours: Be the first to know when the
Garden has a new tour available for schools and other groups. Get
details on arranging tours for your group.

Garden Events & Programs: This is a quarterly preview of upcoming workshops, classes, tours and festivities.